Medicinal mushrooms have long been used as traditional medicine and are now experiencing a surge in popularity. Available as tinctures, capsules, teas and now coffee-like beverages that promise to reduce stress levels, improve cognitive function and help sleep patterns, they promise relief of stress while improving cognitive performance and aiding sleep quality. Although mushroom coffee’s health claims seem quite promising there’s little scientific support behind them and some ingredients may increase your risk for kidney stones.

Mushroom coffee is an innovative combination of medicinal mushrooms (such as chaga, reishi, turkey tail and lion’s mane) with ground coffee beans to create an enjoyable beverage with far less caffeine content; making it suitable for those trying to reduce caffeine intake or who have allergies. In some brands of mushroom coffee extra healthy ingredients such as maca, ashwagandha and Siberian ginseng are included for an enhanced experience.

Mushroom coffee may offer some anti-inflammatory and energy benefits, but it should not be seen as a panacea for weight loss, according to registered dietitian nutritionist Rachel Haar. As with any new trend or claim being made about products and claims made about them. She suggests being wary when drinking something that has not been clinically studied – most likely for bad reason!

Some studies on medicinal mushrooms have demonstrated promising results in the lab, though it’s difficult to translate those results to real people. There’s also no proof that mushroom coffee is any more effective at relieving stress, improving cognitive function or reducing jitteriness than regular coffee.

However, certain mushroom types such as chaga and cordyceps contain high concentrations of oxalates that naturally occur within your body but may build up and lead to blockages in your urinary tract, leading to pain, swelling, and nausea – an estimated half million+ people annually visit emergency rooms due to kidney stone issues!

As oxalates can be found in numerous food and drink items, including coffee, it’s important to monitor how much oxalates you are consuming so as to not exceed recommended daily allowances. Mushroom coffee should not be drunk by those with kidney or stomach disorders or who experience vomiting frequently as this could increase kidney stress further and cause additional health risks. Additionally, this beverage should not be drunk if taking certain medications such as blood pressure medications.

If you’re thinking of trying mushroom coffee, make sure to read and consult with your physician first before purchasing a product. Remember that whole mushrooms provide all of the same nutrition and fiber without potential health risks.